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This they did, relating everything from Charlie's accident with the Frenchman to the destruction of the submarine by the depth charge just after Labenstein had flashed his signal, assuming that this was what he had done. "Very well, young gentlemen, I am exceedingly obliged to you," said the English officer. "The matter will be taken care of promptly and these men may be arrested.
"And if he tries any more games in spoiling films I'll have my say!" threatened Macaroni. The boys talked the situation over at some length as they put away the films they had taken of the submarine attack, and agreed that "watchful waiting" was the best policy to adopt. As Blake had said, little could be gained by denouncing Labenstein with only the word of one witness to rely on.
"They crept up, all right," muttered Joe. "I never heard a sound until they called on us to surrender," he added. "Maybe Secor and Labenstein saw us and never let on, and then sent a signal telling the others to come and get us," suggested Charlie. "I hardly think that," replied Blake. "The Frenchman and his fellow German plotter seemed to be as much surprised as we were. You could see that."
What was said Blake and his chums could not, of course, hear, nor could they have understood had they heard. A little later, however, they were ordered to march on, and then were shown into an underground room, none too clean and quite dark, and the door was banged shut on them. Just before this they had seen Secor and Labenstein go off in another direction, still carrying the boxes of films.
"Labenstein, to use one of his names, had orders to make all the trouble he could for you when you reached France, and to prevent your getting any pictures, if possible. Of course he could not do that, but he tried, even to the extent of writing a false note in London that caused your arrest.
In silence the boys watched the two men at their queer conference. The tilted mirrors one in each stateroom gave a perfect view of what went on between the Frenchman and the German, as the boys preferred to think Labenstein, but the watchers themselves were not observed.
"I suppose Secor and Labenstein are somewhere, plotting to do their worst," went on Blake. "Having gone as far as they did, they wouldn't give up easily, I imagine. I can understand Labenstein's acting as he did, but that Secor, a Frenchman, if he really is one, should plot to injure his own country that gets me!" "Same here! I wonder if we'll ever see him again either of them, for that matter."
He bent over him, drew back the covering and revealed in the lantern's glow the face of Labenstein. The German raised himself on one elbow, and a wild look came over his face. His eyes gleamed brightly for a moment. "They they here!" he murmured. "Well, perhaps it is better so." "How better? What does he mean?" asked Blake. "Does he think " "Hush!" and the Frenchman spoke softly.
I mean we aren't fighting you Germans though we might if we had the chance. We're just taking pictures, and these fellows have stolen our films," and he indicated Secor and Labenstein. The latter made some reply in German to the captain which the boys could not understand. "Give us back our films and let us go!" demanded Macaroni. "We only came to get them!"
"Oh, him!" and again came the deprecatory shrug of the shoulders. "He is an acquaintance, not a friend. Besides, he has but one lamp, and he needs that. So, also, will you need yours. But as there are three of you together, I thought perhaps " "We each have a light," said Blake, interrupting the rather rapid talk of Labenstein. "In fact, I have two, and I'll let you take one."
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